Twenty-Sixth+Caluri+2

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The 26th amendment gives the right to vote to any citizen (of the United States) over the age of 18 years. It also gave Congress the right to set minimum voting age for state and local elections, unlike before when it could only set the age for federal elections.




 * Essential Question:**

Issues that prompted the creation of the 26th amendment are that men who were were forced to fight and die in Wars (Vietnam War), were 18 years, yet they age to vote was 21, so in order to solve this issue, the voting age was lowered to the age of 18. Even though youths got the right to vote, they are not exercising it. Youth vote becomes important for candidates running in the election. It could help candidates win, but youths aren't voting. They are ignoring their right to vote. Candidates are trying to encourage youth to vote. One example is Obama, who wants change, and wants something new, which is what young people like to hear about, therefore encouraging them to vote for him.
 * How do the issues which prompted the creation of the amendments compare with the issues they are applied to today? Question and Answer (Q&A):**


 * //Question-Answer://**

A: The 26 amendment states that anyone 18 or older could vote in federal, state, and local elections.
 * Q: What does the 26th Amendment state?**

A: It was ratified by the states on July 1971
 * //Q: When was it//** **//ratified?//**

A: It was proposed on March 23 1971, {by Congress}
 * //Q: When was it proposed?//**

A: Jennings Randolph proposed the 26th amendment.
 * //Q: Who proposed the 26 amendment?//**

Congress decided to lower the voting age to 18 because of soldiers who fought and even died in Wars. They protested that if they can pick up a gun and go to war they can vote. In World War I, soldiers 21 and over were drafted (by the Selective Service Act) into war. Congress realized they needed more people to fight in this war and therefore lowered to age to 18, which made the soldiers protest. At last the Vietnam War was the final event that led to a federal amendment that lowered the voting age. They began holding protests, and argued that if they were old enough to fight, and they were not protected under juvenile laws they should have a say in the government
 * //Q: Why did congress decide to lower the voting age to 18? (Create the 26th amendment.)//**

__**Introduction:**__ The 26th amendment deals with voting. It give people over the age of 18 the right to vote in state and federal elections. The right to vote was a major conflict in the nation. The right to vote, at first, was only given to white, male property owners over the age of 21. The voting extended to African American male, and eventually women.

__**Wars:**__

The War of 1812 provided an argument to lower the voting age. Those who served in war fought well regardless of age. The civic rights of 18 and 21 year olds were similar. Even so,most states resisted changing the age,
 * War of 1812**

In world War I, the nation needed many of soldiers ready to fight, In order to get soldiers they would draft soldiers (Selective Service Act). Men from the of 21 to 30 could be drafted to fight in the war. Since the nation needed more soldiers to fight in the war, they lowered the age from 21 to 18. even though, this promoted the chances of lowering the voting age, little change occurred. even though they could pick up a machine gun and go to war, yet, they couldn't cast a ballot?
 * World War I**

Polls showed that most Americans were not favorable of lowering the voting age. The first attempt to make it into an amendment was from Senator Harley Kilgore. If young citizens were drafted to fight, they should have a choice in the government they fight for. Backers started to propose at state and federal levels. Some of the many proposals were successful. Georgia was the first state to lower the voting age to 18.
 * World War II**

Support for lowering the voting age grew. The right for States to choose their own laws,rather than having the federal government enforce it, became very intense. the south was aganist lowering the voting age. Kentucky became the second state lower the voting age to 18. even the support of the president was not enough to convince Americans and lawmakers to support this law. Not much progress was made.
 * State**

The Vietnam War led the Congress and Legislatures to pass this amendment. Men who fought could not vote, yet had to fight in the war. "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" was a common saying, which showed that young men wanted to right to vote, and have a say in the government, if they were to fight in a war. Since they weren't protected by juvenile laws and could bear arms, they should be able to vote. Older Americans argued that young people had no real stake in political process nd they would lead to political instability. The draft gave them a stake for their country. !8 year olds worked and paid taxes. Plus, they had a high level of education unlike their parents who did not attend collage. Also no longer could the older voters argue that the youths couldn't make the right choice. Young America's were more informed. The hypocrisy of denying youth the right to vote was not easy to ignore. They showed political responsibility by participating in political events. The youth had alot of enthusiasm for the political process and many believed that this should be acknowledged and rewarded. If the youth are encouraged to participate in politics at a young age they can latter be harnessed to further the political cause and participate in it.
 * Vietnam War**

The idea of reforming the voting age resurfaced again due to Congress passing the Voting Rights Act. The Congress wished to lower the voting age but realized it would never pass as an amendment, so they created it into an act, The Voting Right Act of 1970. The problem with the Voting Right Act of 1970 was that it directly contradicted the Constitution. The Voting Right Act of 1970 mandated that state and local elections create minimum voting age.This directly overstepped the constitutional boundary of the federal government messing with states rights. The Supreme Court reviewed the case in //Oregon vs. Mitchell// and determined the Act was unconstitutional. To ensure that this act came to pass and ensure that the right to vote was fair it was changed to an amendment, a revision in the constitution.
 * The Ratification**

President Johnson asked Congress to propose the amendment, in 1968. Randolph then reintroduced the law in 1971. The amendment passed 3/4 of the state legislature faster than another amendment. It was by certified President Nixon on July 1, of 1971. A problem of the 26th was that it led to the states lowering the voting age for other things such as marrying, at the age of 18.


 * //Current events//**__:

[|Sadid's Current Event (Youth Vote)]__ __**Summary:**__ Delegates that are running in elections require youth votes. Harvard University’s Institute of Politics has been conducting a poll about collage students for about seven years. Young people are being encouraged by presidential candidates to vote. On December 5th the results of the survey will be released. Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth M. Duberstein will introduce the program (Opportunity 08), along with 2 students, who will present the youth view.


 * __Sadid's Opinion:__** I think that candidates are trying hard to get votes from youth. In order to do that they are doing polls to figure out the amount of youth that vote, and amount that do not. I think that parents should encourage kids to vote. The youth from age 18-21 are at a very intelligent point, where they have to power to make great decisions. I think ignoring the right to vote vote is wrong. Also i believe that this new program (Opportunity 08) will have a huge impact in the way kids think.

[|Pasha's current event (U.S. Voting trends unacceptable)] People were voting in national and local elections sins United States was created. In the Year of 2004 only 58.3 percent of total people were voting, so the rest 42.7 percent didn't give their opinion which is not very good because thats almost half of our people.Even some of the famous rappers like P.Diddy says "Vote or die" Some people argue with others, or even blame them for choosing some candidates that they do not like, why? They didn't elect anybody and they start to brawl and do some other bad things.
 * Summary**:

[|Micheal's Current event (Youth Vote Promise remains unfulfilled)] During every election candidates are trying to chase youth vote. It’s highly desired because there are a lot of young people in this country that do not vote. About 36 years ago the passage of the 26 amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years. Even though the age for voting has lowered. Young people still don’t use there opportunity to vote. In 1972 election there was a big lack of youth vote participation. Only 50% of youth voted. 24% of youth voters voted in non presidential elections (in midterm elections) in 2006. U.S. candidates are hoping that youth voters guardians and the media can instill civic pride (concern) in there children. It is also hoped that new computerized voting machines with a paper trail will inspire confidence in the voting system and encourage young people to vote.
 * __Pasha's opinion:__** I personally think that young citizens should vote. Why?, because young citizens are part of our lives. They should vote because we need to know what are they thinking. Not only elder people care about our world. Teenagers will rule this world long after we will be gone and they need to know whats going on. That is my personal opinion.
 * Summary:**


 * __Mikes opinion:__** I personally think that young citizens should vote. Especially in there college years when they are at there most intelligent part of there life. I think its crazy that they don’t want to vote and also that only 50% of youth voters voted in the elections. Fortunately guardians and media are doing everything they can to get the young students to vote.